Football position aligner



G. B. HUFFAKER FOOTBALL POSITION ALIGNER May 10, 1960 Filed Sept. 23, 1957 dfiy? I N VEN TOR.

ATTD RN EYB United States Patent FOOTBALL POSITION ALIGNER Garth B. Hutaker, San Bernardino, Calif.

Application September 23, 1957, Serial No. 685,610

1 Claim. (Cl. 3.3-46) This invention relates to an aligning device, and more particularly to .an aligning device for use by side line oicials when a game of football is being played.

The object of the invention is to provide an alignment device which will permit side line oicials to properly ascertain the exact location of a ball such as a football, as for example, when the game is being played according to the usual rules Ifor the game.

Another object of the invention is to provide a football position alignment device which is adapted .to be moved along the side lines of a football playing eld so lthat othcials of the game as well as other persons such as spectators will be able .to readily observe which down is under way, and wherein the device of the present invention will also permit the side line oiiicials to accurately locate the football with respect to the playing field, or with respect to the usual marking members that are used on the side line of 4the playing held.

Another object of the invention is to provide a football position alignment device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the [following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same. Y

Figure 1 is an elevational view illustrating the football position alignment device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating the housing which supports the compass vand also showing the casing which has the battery therein.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the use of the alignment device of the present invention.

Referring in `details to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a base which comprises a pair of spaced parallel horizontally disposed bars 11 which have a platform 12 secured thereto, Figure 1. Extending between the ends of the bars 11 is a pair of horizontally disposed axles 13, and a pair of ground engaging wheels 14 are mounted on the axles 13 whereby the device =20 can be readily rolled .along or moved along the ground, such asalong the side lines of a football field.

The device of the present invention further includes an upstanding tubular support member which is indicated by the numeral 15, and slidably or telescopically mounted in the support member 15 is a rod 16 which is provided with a plurality of zones or areas v17 that are adapted to be colored differently from each other, Whereby the areas `17 can be used to indicate downs that corresponds to the play of the game of football.

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Connected to the upper portion ot the support member 15 is a clip 18 which serves to support a sight member 19.

The numeral 21 indicates the clamp which is connected to the support member 15, and connected to the clamp 21 is an L-shaped arm 22 which includes a vertically disposed section 23 that is connected to the clamp 21 by means of a securing element 24. The arm 22 further includes a horizontally disposed section 25, and connected to the section 25 of the arm 22, by means of a securing element such as .the bolt and nut assembly 32, is the lower portion 27 of a bracket 26. The bracket 26 further includes inclined portions 28 and vertically disposed portions 29, and a housing 30 is mounted between the portions 29 of the bracket 26 .by means 'of screw members 31.

Arranged within the housing 30 is a compass 33 which has a magnifying glass 34 arranged thereabove, Figure 5, and an eye piece 35 is adapted to be used for viewing the compass 33 through the magnifying glass 34, there being a space 33 aroung the compass 33 whereby the light 38 can illumina-te the interior of the housing 30. There is provided in .the lower portion of the housing 30 a ref flector 36 and positioned above the reiiector 36 is a transparent lens 37, there beingV a light bulb 38 arranged above the reector 36. The light bulb 3S is adapted to be used forilluminating the interior of the housing 30.

A means is provided for supplying electrical energy to the bulb 3S, and this means comprises a hollow casing 39 which is connected to the bracket 26, and a battery 40 is positioned within the casing 39. The battery 40 is electrically connected to the bulb 38 by means of suitable wires, and a manuallyr operable switch 41 is provided so that by properly actuating the switch 41, the

circuit to the bulb 38 can be completed whereby the interior of the housing 30 can be illuminated whenever desired.

There is further provided a means for maintaining the device 20 .immobile in its various adjusted positions, and this means comprises a brake assembly which is indicated generally .by the numeral 42. The brake assembly 42 includes a vertically shitable stake which is indicated by the numeral 43, and the stake 43 includes a vertical portion 44 which is slidably mounted in a collar 45 which is .aixed tothe support member 15. The lower portion of the stake 43 extends through a suitable opening in the `platform 12, and the lower end of the stake 43 is pointedas at 46 for facilitating .the -insertion of the stake Yinto the ground, such as the ground 48, Figures l and 2. The

numeral 47 indicates a tranverse portion on the upperend of the stake 43 which defines a hand gripping element which can be used yfor raising the stake 43, as for ex-` ample when the device 20 is to be shifted to a diierent location.

Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, the numeral 49 indicates a portion of a conventional football tield, Wherein the playing tield 49 is laid out with usual ten yard lines 50, and the numeral 51 indicates a Ifootball which is adapted to be moved along the playing tield as the game progresses. The numeral 52 indicates the usual side line stakes or posts which have a chain 53 extending therebetween as for example, when the ofcials are determining whether -or not a first down has beenl made by one of the teams.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an alignment device for use when playing football. In use, with the stake 43 in raised position, the device 20 can be readily moved or rolled -along the side lines of a football playing iield such as the playing field 49. The Wheels 14 permit the device to readily roll along .the side lines, and after the device 20 has been properly located, the portion 47 can be moved down.-

wardly so that the lower pointed end 46 of the stake 43 will extend into `the ground 48 whereby the device will be anchored in its adjusted position. Then, when the device is to be shifted the stake 43 can be again raised whereby .the device can be moved to the new location.

The sight member 19 is adapted to be looked through whereby the person using the device can readily and accurately observe the football, such as the football 51. Also, the rod 16 can be selectively raised or lowered in the support member so that different colored zones 17 can `be exposed to View whereby spectators or game oicials will be able to readily observe which down is under way. Also, the user of the device can look through the eye piece 35 so as to observe the compass 33 through the magnifying glass 34 so that the device can be accurately or properly oriented. By actuating the switch 4i, the circuit between the battery 4t) and the bulb 33 will be completed so that the interior of the housing 30 can be illuminated when desired.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The number of batteries being used or the size of the batteries can be varied as desired. By looking through the eye piece 35, the operator can readily see the compass reading and this reading will insure the operator a right angle to the playing eld. A right angle must be maintained, otherwise the telescopic sight 19 would pick up the ball but would not tell a true story of the ball placement. When the device is being used, theV instrument can be aligned on the side line of the playing field and then the goal line can be sighted and then a compass reading can be taken and by keeping the instrument on the side line and then getting compass readings on other parts of the field, the operator will be insured of a 90 angle so that the football can be accurately placed. The bulb 38 provides illumination to make reading of the compass more easy. The compass 33 permits the operator to make a check to insure that the device is at right angles to the playing field. The telescopic sight 19 and compass 33 thus work in conjunction with each other. The compass is adapted to be set so that a right angle relationship to the field will be maintained so that the telescopic sight 19 will be accurate in picking up the ball at the proper spot. The various parts such as the sight 19 as well as the housing 30 can be moved up and down on the support member 15 as desired. The housing 30 and its associated parts constitute a locator whereby the operator can keep the instrument at right angles as the operator moves from place to place. Also, the light bulb 38 permits the operator to use the device with greater eiciency at night football games. In use, before a game, the operator will line the instrument on the side line and check the compass point as the telescopic sight 19 splits the end zone line. By keeping this reading and the instrument on the side line a right angle is maintained.

Thus, it will Abe seen that there has been provided an aligning instrument which is a precision instrument for eliminating the element of human error in the game of football. The device can be used for accurately locating the ball and for accurately measuring first downs as well as for accurately locating the chain such as the chain 53 and the device also includes the member 16 which serves as a quick and positive down indicator.

Thus, it will be seen that the device functions to do several things, namely, it identities a first down within seconds with absolute accuracy from its position on the side of the eld and this eliminates the need of bringing the chain on the field. Furthermore, the device accurately locates the ball at the down, and accurately relocates the ball on an incomplete pass play. Furthermore, the device will correctly locate the chain on the side line with each new series of downs, and it provides a simple, instantaneous down indication by a method of color combination which is visible at a 360 radius.

Thus, the down indicator 16 quickly records downs by means of colors 17 which are visible at 360. The scope locator accurately locates and relocates the ball on the playing field, as for example, by using the sight member 19. The instrument precisely determines the correct angle to the playing field so that a perfect angle is visible for both day and night by means of the compass 33. The brake 42 holds the device in position without variation and permits the ten yard chain 53 to be accurately located each series of downs. The wheel 14 permits the device to be moved on demand so that the instrument can be operated with the chain and the wheels permit the device to roll short distances as for example, the device can roll a few inches as when it is necessary to approach the forward tip of the football.

The'above description of the invention is for illustrative purposes only and it is understood that modiiications may be made in the construction within the scope and spirit of the following claim.

I claim:

In a position aligner, a base including a pair of spaced parallel bars, a platform extending across the intermediate portion of said bars and secured thereto, a pair of spaced parallel axles extending between said bars, a pair of ground engaging wheels mounted on said axles, a hollow tubular support member extending upwardly from said platform and secured thereto, a rod telcscopically mounted in said support member and said rod having a plurality of different colored areas thereon, a. clip connected to said support member, a sight member connected to ksaid clip, a clamp positioned below said clip and connected to said support member, an L-shaped arm connected to said clamp, a bracket extending upwardl'y from said arm and connected thereto, a housing supported by said bracket, a compass positioned within said housing, a light bulb arranged below said compass for illuminating said compass, an eye piece extending from said housing, a casing secured to said bracket, a battery positioned within said casing and electrically connected to said bulb, a collar connected to said support member, and a vertically disposed stake adjustably supported by said collar and said stake extending through said platform and having a lower pointed end, the upper end of said stake being provided with a transverse handgripping portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

